Counter



Sept. 2:; 1924. v l 1,506,939

" w. GQPANKONIN COUNTER Filed nec. 21, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 ll i vSept. 2 1924.

w. G. PANKONIN COUNTER Filed nec. 21, 1922 2 sheen-sheet a faxen/fof@Zz'am 6. @H/07Min,

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITEDl STATES PATENT QFFICE.

COUNTER.

Application l'ed December 21, 19.22. Serial No. 608,153,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. PANKo- NIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counters,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in counters of the type morecommonly used in connection with p-rinting presses, punch presses andother machinery in connection with which it is desired to keep a tallyor record of the operations.

One object of the invention is to provide in a counter of the classdescribed, automatically operable means for positively locking thenumeral wheels against overthrow during the registering operationsthereof, thus avoiding one of the chief objections t0 counters now inuse.

Another object contemplates the utilization of the overthrow stopmechanism in resetting the numeral wheels to zero. A further object ofthe invention resides in the provision of means whereby the overthrowstop associated with each of the numeral wheels will become operativeimmediately upon the commencement of the zero-to-one movement thereofand wherein such stop will be maintained in such position for eachsubsequent movement of said wheels, thereby overcoming the possibilityof overthrow throughout the entire operation of the counter.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel form of auxiliarybearing for the counter gear wheels and driving ratchets associatedtherewith whereby all tendencies of these elements to bind upon the mainsupporting shaft are avoided.

Another object of. the invention is to provide, in a counter of theclass described, a novel form of oscillatory driving mechanism by meansof which a fixed step-by-step movement will be imparted to the numeralwheels for varying degrees of movement of said mechanism.

Many other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a reading of the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein one form of theinvention is illust-rated.

transmitting the step-by-step movement to the first of the numeralwheels;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 and showing one ofthe' numeral Wheels in side elevation and the mechanism within saidWheel in dotted lines;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, showing theinterior of one of the, numeral wheels in elevation and a portion of itsassociated ratchet wheel in section;

Fig.A 9 is a section taken on the line 9-.9 of Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a side eleva-tion of the reset and overthrow cam;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of one of the counter gear wheel andratchet units, together with the removable bearing annulus which formsone side of each counter wheel;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view showing the ratchet and pawlmechanism for preventing reverse movement of the driving ratchet; and

Fig. 14 is a detail view Ott the driving ratchet, overthrow stopratchet, and associated parts.

Referrlng more in det-ail to the drawings, the counterI comprises asubstantially U- shaped supporting standard 10, the base of which may beprovided with apertured lugs or the like 11 by means of which thecounter may be bolted or otherwise anchored in position on the machinein connection with which it is desired to use the same. A sheet metalcover 12 is rovided which fits down over the U-shap supporting standard10 and encloses or houses all of the various operating parts of themechanism as shown in the drawings, this cover or enclosure l2 beingprovided With a plurality of transversely alined sight openings, notshown in the drawings, through which the numbers on the various numeralW-heels 13 of the counter may be viewed during the operation thereof.

Extending transversely of the supporting standard and journaled in theside walls thereofis thev main or supporting shaft 14 of the counter,this shaft being journaled directly in the side wall of the supportinorstandard at the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, and at the right isjourna-led in a socket 15 in the operating hub member 16. Which latterin turn is journaled in bearing sleeve 17, Which is mounted in asuitable aperture formed in the corresponding side wall of thesupporting standard. The numeral wheels 13 are j ournaled on shaft 14and are adapted to be selectively rotated thereon by means to behereinafter described, to register the number of the operations beingcounted'. Each numeral wheel comprises a casing 18 0n the interior ofwhich are pivot-ally mounted a driving pawl19 and an anchor 20. One sideof each of the numeral wheels is in the form of a plain notched disk 21,having superimposed thereon a. segmental gear 22, the space interveningbetween the tWo teeth thereof being coincident with the notch in theside' plate 2'1. The other side face of each of the -numeral wheels isin the form of an apertured annulus 23 provided with a series of arcuateslots 24 designed for engagement with the outstanding lugs 25,providedon the corresponding edge of the outer peripheral number bearingdrum 26 of said Wheel. This apertured annulus 23 is also provided withtivo diametrically opposite smaller apertures 27 designed to receive theouter ends of the pivot pins on which the pawl 19 and anchor 20are'mounted. The other ends of these pivot pins are mounted in theopposite notched face 21 of the numeral wheel. It Will thus be seenthat'the annulus 23 of each numeral wheel, when these parts are inposition, as shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 9, Will be supportedentirely by the latter. These annuli are provided as auxiliary bearingsfor the numeral. gear wheel and ratchet units 28, shown in detail inFig. 12, and which are also rotatably mounted on` the main shaft. 14.Each of these units is provided with a hub member 29 intermediate thegear Wheel 30 and the ratchet Wheel 31 thereof, and slightly larger indiameter than the' ratchet Wheel. This hub member of each unit, when thelatter is moved into operativeV position with relation to its numeralWheel, as shown more clearly in Fig. 9, engages snugly Within theenlarged central aperture of the corresponding auxiliary bearing plate23, thus providing against tendencies of the unit 28 to bind upon themain shaft, said unit, as thus mounted, having its bearing both upon themainshaft.- and in the ann'ulus 23 carried by said numeral Wheel.

It will be understood that one of the units 28 is provided for each ofthe numeral wheels with the exception of the first one of the series,this wheel being operated through the mechanism to be hereinafterdescribed. Splined upon the shaft14 are a plurality of notches disks orcams 32, there being one such cam for each of the numeral wheels and thesame being disposed when the various parts are assembled in operativeposition, Within the numeral wheels immediately adjacent the sidesthereof, which carries a segmental gear 22. The ratchet wheels 31 ofythe units 28 when the latter are moved -into position, as previouslydescribed, are also disposed Within the numeral wheels and immediatelyadjacent the cams 32. The'pawls' 19 are spring actuated so as to bemaintained in constant engagement with ther ratchet wheels 31 andprovide a driving connection between the said ratchet Wheels and thenumeral wheels as will be readily understood. Each anchor 2O has itsends oppositely offset, one end 33 thereof being designed forcooperation with the periphery of one of the cams 32, while the otherend 34 thereof is designed for engagement with the adjacent ratchetwheel 31, these anchors beingspring actuated, the tendency of t-hesprings being to maintain the ends 33 in constant engagement with theperipheries of the cams. The notch in the cam is shown at 35.

Also mounted transversely of the standard 10 and journaled in the sidewalls thereof is a counter shaft 36 upon which are loosely mounted apluralityv of gear pinions 3T. As best shown in Fig. 1. every othertooth of each of these gear pinions 37 is cut away so that one-half ofeach pinion will have. substantially only one-half as many teeth as theother half thereof. One of these gear pinions 3T cooperates with eachpair of numeral wheels to the extent that the portion thereof haring thelargest number of teeth meshes with the corresponding numeral gear wheelof said pair and the portion having the Smaller number of teeth isadapted to be engaged by the teeth of the segmental gear 22 thereof, ina manner as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The operating hub 16 at the right hand end of the counter as viewed inFig. 1 is provided on its outer end with an operating lever 38, the samebeing securely held in position by means of a nut and washer 39', oranyv other suitable means. Fixed on the inner end of the hub 16 is a cam39 having a cut out portion 40 iits periphery. Ro-

tatably mounted on the main shaft 14 immediately adjacent the inner endof the hub 16 i's a member 41, which carries three ratchet Wheels 42,43, and 44, the latter two being reversed one with relation to the otherand the teeth thereof separated by means of an upstanding annular flange45. The outer periphery of the hub portion of the member 41 is so sizedas to snugly engage within the 'central aperture of the annulus 23carried by the first of the numeral wheels, so that said member 41 willhave two bearings, one upon the shaftl 14 and the other within saidannulus, much the same as previously described in connection with thenumeral gear wheel and ratchet units 28 associated with the othernumeral wheels. The ratchet wheel 42, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.6, corresponds with the ratchet wheels 31 .of the other numeral wheelassemblies and lies entirely within the first numeral wheel When theparts are in' operative position. The first numeral wheel is ofsubstantially the same construction as the ones' previously described,having pivoted on its interior a pawl 19 and anchor 20, the former beingin constant mesh with the ratchet wheel 42 and serving as a drivingconnection between the -latter'and said numeral wheel. The anchor is ofthe same design as previously described and cooperates in the samemanner with the cam or.

notched disk 32 within the first numeral wheel and the ratchet wheel 42.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a bell crank lever 46 is mounted upon thecounter shaft 36, one arm 48 of which is of substantial length andextends under the main shaft 14 of the counter and beneath the doubleratchet wheel at the outer end of the member 41. At its outer end, thisarm' 48 has pivotally mounted thereon a pawl 49, spring pressed intoconstant engagement with the ratchet wheel 43 of the member 41. Theother arm 50 of the bell crank lever ek-tends upwardly and forwardly andis provided at. its outer end with a roller 51 which engages theperiphery of the cam 39, a coil spring 52 on the counter shaft 36serving'to maintain this roller 51 in constant engagement with the camsurface. Provided on the arm 48 of the bell crank lever intermediate itspivotal point and its outer end, and disposed upwardly beneath theratchet wheel 44 of the member 41, is an overthrow stop 53 designed toengage the ratchet wheel 44 upon each operation of the bell crank leverso as to prevent overthrow of the member 41 and consequently of thefirst of the numeral Wheels. Also pivoted on the counter shaft 36immediately adjacent the bell crank lever 46 is a pawl 54 held b v meansof spring 55 in constant engagement with the ratchet wheel 43, this pawl54 bing in the nature of a backing-up butt,

tion of the roller 51 with relation thereto is such, that the bell cranklever will be operated to advance the member 41 (and consequently thefirst of the numeral wheels) one tooth or step forward upon a movementof said cam or its operating handle 38 through a fraction of arevolution equal to such advancement, at which time the roller 51 willhave reached the extreme outer periphery of the cam, thus preventing anyfurther movement of the bell crank lever even though the movement of theoperating handle 38 be continued to substantially complete one entirerevolution. A coiledV sprin 38 is provided for automatically returmngthe handle 38 and cam 39 to starting position from any of their variouspositions of advancement, stops 56 and 57 carried respectively by saidhandle and the end plate of the counter being provided for limiting thisreturn movement. The overthrow stop 53, as will be observed, functionseach time the bell crank lever is operated, the same engaging upwardlyinto the teeth of the ratchet wheel 44 to prevent any advancementthereof in excess of one stef) or tooth at a time.

t is desired to call attention at this time to the fact that, ifdesired, the operating hub 16 instead of being operated by theoscillatory handle 38 might be operated by means of gears or othercontinuously rotating drive. In the event of such substitution, the cam39 would be continuously revolved and by reason of its cut-out portion40 would operate the bell crank lever upon each complete revolutionl tolift its pawl 49 and advance the member 41 one step forward. Theoscillatory drive is preferred in most uses of counters such as the oneherein described, however, and the particular drive shown herein isbelieved to possess many advantages over those heretofore devised, itschief advantage residing in the realization of a fixed step-by-stepmovement for varying degrees of movement of the driving member.

The step-by-step advancement of the first or units wheel of the series,has just been described, it being transmitted to said wheel from themember 41 by means of the pawl 19, which provides a driving engagementbetween the ratchet 42 of said member 41 and the said units wheel. Uponeach comp'ete rotation of the units wheel the segmental gear 22 thereofwill engage one of the teeth of the cooperating gear pinion 37, (theother half of which, as above described, is in constant mesh with thenu-l meral gear wheel 30 of the adjacent numeral wheel) and advance theadjacent numeral wheel one step forward. After this operation has beencompleted the smooth outer periphery of the side plate 21 of the firstvunits wheel will rotate in the recess intere vening between two of theteeth on the gear pinion, thus holdin the same against operation and4preventing further registering movement of the second numeral wheeluntil the units wheel completes another rotation. The selectiveoperation of the remaining numeral. wheels of. the series is the same asthat just described in connection with the first two and will,therefore, not be repeated.

The operation of the anchors 20, or as they may be conveniently termed,the combination over-throw stop and reset pawls, which form one of thechief features of the present invention will now be described more indetail. The position of these anchors both with relation to the severalnumeral wheels and the cams and ratchet wheels with which theycooperate, has already been described. When the numeral wheels are allin zero position the end 33 of the anchor in each wheel is in engagementwith the notch 35 of the cam 32 and the other end 34 thereof issupported out of engagement with its corresponding ratchet wheel 31, asshown more clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Aspreviously pointed out, the spring associated with each of the anchorsexerts a down pressure on the end 33 thereof and a corresponding uppressure on the opposite end, so as to maintain the said end 33 inconstant engagement with the outer periphery of the cam 32. It isopportune at this point to explain that the shaft 14, upon which thecams 32 are keyed, as previously pointed out, is normally maintained bymeans of mechanism to be hereinafter described, in a stationary positionwherein the notches 35 of all of the cams 32 are in alinement, and in aposition to receive the ends 33 of the anchors 20 within said notches 35when the numeral wheels are in zero position. The peripheral extent ofthe notch 35 of the cams 32 and the design and arrangement of theanchors is such that immediately upon the commencement of a zero-toonemovement of any one of the numeral wheels, the end 34 of the anchortherein will be rocked into locking engagement with its correspondingratchet wheel 31, thus positively locking the numeral wheel againstoverthrow. After this locking engagement between the end 34 of one ofthe anchors and its ratchet wheel 31 has been effected, such engagementis maintained throughout each subsequent registering movement of saidwheel by the cam 32, the latter remaining stationary on the shaft 14during such movements and the end 33 of the anchor sliding around theperiphery of said cam during such move.-

ments, as will be clearly understood. The locking engagement between theanchor 2') and ratchet wheel 31 in each .wheel is, released only uponthe arrival of said wheel at zero position, at which time the end 33 ofsaid anchor drops into the notch 35 of the cam.

In order to reset all of the numeral wheels back to' Zero after a givenregistering operation of the counter, it is merely necessary to graspthe knurled knob 56, fixed upon the left hand end of the shaft 14, asviewed in Fig. 1, and rotate said shaft in the same direction in whichthe numeral wheels rotate during their registering movements. Thisrotation of the shaft 14 rotates the cams 32 which are keyed thereto,

the latter each turning freely within its numeral wheel unt-il the notch35 thereof is engaged by the end 33 of its corresponding anchor 20, thusconnecting the cam to the wheel so that further rotation of the shaftcauses a corresponding rotation or resetting of the wheel back to zero.In a resetting operation, the numeral wheel showing the lowest numeralthrough its sight opening in the casing is picked up first, because, aswill be appreciated, its anchor 2() has been the least removed from thenotch in its corresponding cam. The numeral wheel showing the nexthighest numeral will next be picked up and so on throughout the seriesuntil all of the wheels have been thus engaged, at which time they willbe rotated or moved in unison back to zero position. Immediatelyadjacent the knob 56 on shaft 14, said shaft carries a notched disk orkeeper 57, cooperating with which is a spring pressed lever 58 pivotedas at 59 to the side ofthe counter casing. This 1ever 58 carries adepending finger 59 which is designed to engage the'notch in the disk 57when the wheels are in zero position. The cooperation between the finger59 and the notched periphery of the disk 57 is such that upon rotationof said shaft as in a reset operation, the lever 58 is raised upwardlyso that its finger 59 may ride around the periphery of the disk, saidfinger snapping into the notch upon the cornpletion of one revolution ofthe shaft, this, as will be understood, being all that is necessary inorder to reset all of the wheels back to zero position. The notch 59 isslightly undercut as shown best in Fig. 2 so that as the finger 59 snapsinto engagement therewith, it will cause a slight back or reversemovement of the shaft 14, this being to insure full engagement of eachof the anchors in the notches 35 of their corresponding cams.

The engagement of the finger 59 of lever 58 in the notch of the disk 57serves to se- (urely hold the shaft 14 and the cams 32 carried therebystationary throughout the registering operations of the counter, theshaft 14 being only rotated as above described when it is desired toreset the various numeral wheels to zero.

Many machines in connection with which counters are used containmechanism which may be employed for directly imparting the step-by-stepmovement to the units or first wheel of the series without theinterposition or employment of step-by-step mechanism in or as a part ofthe counter, and when such a machine is encountered, the step-by-stepmechanism of the counter may accordingly be dispensed with, as will bereadily understood.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the present improvementsare susceptible of various changes and modifications without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and accordingly it is not desired tolimit or'restrict the same to the particular form, construction orarrangement of parts herein described and illustrated, except wherelimitations appear in the appended claims.

What I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described', the combinationwith a numeral wheel and means for operating same, of means carried bysaid wheel for preventing overthrow thereof during its step-by-steprotation.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a numeralwheel and means for operating same, of means housed within said wheelfor preventing overthrow thereof during its step-by-step rotation.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a numeralwheel and means for operating same, of positive locking means carried bysaid wheel for preventing overthrow thereof during operation.

4. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft, an actuating member rotatably mountedon said shaft, a power transmitting member interposed between saidactuating member and said wheel, means for operating said actuatingmember, and means associated with the latter for preventing said Wheelbeing moved more than one step at a time.

5. In a counter, the combination with the numeral wheel supportingshaft, a numeral wheel thereon and means for operating same, of meanscarried by said wheel and cooperating with said shaft and said operatingmeans for preventing overthrow of` said wheel during operation thereof.

6. In a counter, the combination with the numeral wheel supportingshaft, a numeral Wheel thereon and means for operating same, of meansassociated with said wheel and cooperating with said shaft and saidoperating means for preventing overthrow of said wheel during operationthereof, said means being in the form of a locking pawl adapted to bemoved into locking position by said shaft immediately upon thecommencement of the zero-to-one movement of said wheel,

7 In a counter, the combination with the numeral wheel supporting shaft,a numeral wheel thereon and means for operating same, of meansassociated with said wheel and cooperating with said shaft and saidoperating means for preventing overthrow of said wheel during operationthereof, said means being in the form of a locking pawl adapted to bemoved into locking position by said shaft immediately upon thecommencement of the zero-to-one movement of said wheel, and means foractuating said operating means for advancing said wheel step-by-stepwhile said locking pawl remainsV in its locking position.

8. In a counter, a normally stationary shaft, a cam keyed thereto, anumeral wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for rotating saidwheel step-by-step, and means carried by said wheel and actuated by saidcam for locking the former against overthrow throughout its step-by-stepmovements.

9. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a cam fixed to said shaft, a ratchet wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft, means for operating said ratchet wheelstepby-step, means for transmitting the movement of said ratchet wheellto said numeral wheel, and means operable by said cam and cooperatingwith saidY ratchet wheel for locking said numeral wheel againstoverthrow throughout its registering movements.

10. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a cam fixed to said shaft, a ratchet Wheelrotatably mounted on saidv shaft, means for operating said ratchet wheelstep-by-step, means for transmitting the movement of said ratchet wheelto said numeral wheel, and an anchor carried by said numeral wheel andmovable by said cam into engagement with said ratchet wheel immediatelyupon commencement of the zero-to-one movement of said numeral wheel forlocking of the latter against overthrow.

11. In a/ device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a cam fixed to said shaft, a ratchet Wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft, means for operating said ratchet wheelstepkby-step, means-for transmitting the moveof the latter againstoverthrow, said cam being so designed as to maintain said engagementumnterruptedly throughout all positions of said wheel except the zeroposition thereof.

12. In a device of the'class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a cam lixed to said shaft, a ratchet wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft, means for operating said ratchet wheelstepby-step, means for transmitting the movement of said ratchet wheelto said numeral wheel, and an anchor carried by said numeral wheel andmovable by said cam into engagement with said ratchet wheel immediatelyupon commencement of the zero-to-one movement of saidnumeral wheel forlocking y of the latter against overthrow, and spring means for rockingsaid anchor out of engagement with said ratchet and into engagement witha notch in said cam when said wheel reaches zero position or uponmovement of said cam to receive said anchor in said notch, said anchorand notch when engaged providing a drivingconnection between said shaftand said wheel whereby.

upon rotation of the former the latter may be reset to zero from any ofits various registering positions.

13. In a vdevice of the class described, a shaft, a pluralityy ofcounter wheels rotatably mounted thereon, means for operating the firstof said wheels step-by-step, transfer mechanism operable upon eachcomplete revolution of said first wheel' for selectively operating thefollowing wheels of the' series step-by-step, and means carried by eachof said wheels for preventing overthrow thereof.

14. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a plurality of counterwheels rotatably mounted thereon, means for operating the first of saidwheels step-by-step, transfer mechanism operable upon each completerevolution of said first wheel for selectively operating the followingwheels of the series step-by-step, and means associated with each ofsald wheels for preventing overthrow thereof, said means also serving toreset said wheels to zero upon rotation of saidl shaft in the directionof the step-by-step registering movements of said wheels.

15. In a device of the class described, a

shaft, a plurality of counter wheels rotatably mounted thereon, meansforoperating' the first of said wheels step-by-step, transfer mechanismoperable upon each complete revolution of said first wheel forselectively operating the following wheels of the series step-by-step,means associated with each of said wheels for preventing overthrowthereof, said means also serving to reset said.

wheels to zero upon rotation of said shaft in the direction of thestep-by-,step registering movements of said wheels, and means forchecking the rotation of said shaft and for imparting a slight reverseimpulse thereto when the zero position has been reached in the resettingoperation.

16. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on saidshaft, means for imparting a stepby-step movement to said ratchet wheel,a driving pawl carried by said numeral wheel and in constant engagementwith said ratchet wheel, a cam .fixed upon said shaft adjacent saidratchet wheel, an anchor pivoted to said numeral wheel and having oneend designedfor cooperation with said cam and its other end adapted forengagement with said ratchet wheel, spring means for maintaining saidanchor in constant engagemenft with said cam, said cam being providedwith a notch which when engaged by said anchor permits the latter toswing free of said ratchet wheel, said cam atall other times maintainingsaid anchor in engagement with said ratchet wheel whereby the latter andsaid numeral wheel are locked together to prevent overthrow of thelatter throughout its step-by-step operation.

17. In a device of the class describeda shaft, a numeral wheel rotatablymounted thereon, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, -meansfor imparting a stepby-step movement to saidratchet wheel, a drivingpawl carried by said numeral wheel and in constant engagement with saidratchet wheel, a cam fixed upon said shaft adjacent said ratchet wheel,an anchor pivoted to said numeral wheel and having one end designed forcooperation with said cam and its other end adapted for engagement withsaid ratchet wheel, spring means for maintaining said anchor inconst-ant engagement with said cam, said cam being provided with a*notch which when engaged by said anchor permits the latter to swing freeof said ratchet wheel, said cam at all other times maintaining saidanchor in engagement with said ratchet wheel whereby the latter and saidnumeral wheel are locked together to prevent overthrow of the latterthroughout its step-by-step movement, said cam.. notch and anchorserving as a reset driving connection between said shaft and saidnumeral wheel upon rotation of the former in the direction of theregistering movements of the latter.

18. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on saidshaft, means for imparting a stepby-step movement to said ratchet wheel,a driving pawl carried by said numeral wheel and in constant engagementwith said ratchet wheel, a cam xed upon said shaft adjacent said ratchetwheel, an anchor pivoted to said numeral wheel, and having one enddesigned for cooperating with said cam and its other end adapted forengagement with said ratchet wheel, spring means for maintaining saidanchor in const-ant engagement with said cam, said cam being providedwith a notch which when engaged by said anchor permits the latter toswing free of saidv ratchet wheel, said cam at all other timesmaintaining said anchor in engagement with said ratchet wheel wherebythe latter and said numeral wheel are locked together to preventoverthrow of the latter throughout its step-by-step operation, saidanchor being free of said ratchet wheel only when the same is in fullengagement with said notch, the latter being so designed as to rock saidanchor into its ratchet engaging position immediately upon commencementof the zero-to-one movement of said numeral wheel.

19. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted numeralwheel and means for rotating the numeral wheel step-by-step, said meanscomprising a ratchet wheel, a pawl in constant engagement therewith, anoscillatory operating member, and power transmitting mechanism interosed between the latter and said pawl, sai power transmitting mechanismbeing so designed that rotation of said ratchet wheel is limited to onestep upon each operation of said operating member regardless of thethrow of the latter.

20. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted numeralwheel and means for rotating the numeral wheel step-by-step, said meanscomprising a` ratchet wheel, a Eawl in constant engagement therewith, a

' ell crank lever carrying said pawl and means for operating said leverin such Wise that such ratchet wheel is advanced but one step on eachoperation of said operating means, said operating means including anoscillatory cam in engagement with one arm of said lever and so designedthat its full throw is available upon a small fraction of a rotationthereof, whereby a fixed step-bystep movement of said ratchet may bee'ected by oscillating said cam, through said fract1on of a rotation orany fraction in excess thereof.

21. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a gear wheel associated with said numeralwheel and also rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for advancing saidgear wheel step-by-step, means for transmitting said step-by-stepmovement to said numeral wheel, and means carried by said numeral Wheelproviding an auxiliary bearing for said gear wheel.

22. In a device of the class described, a.

on said shaft, means for advancing said gear wheel step-by-step, meansfor transmitting said step-by-step movement to said numeral wheel, a hubmember carried by said gear wheel, the adjacent side of said numeralWheel being provided with an opening, and said hub member beingjournaled in said opening to provide an auxiliary bearing for said gearwheel.

23. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a gear wheel associated with said numeralwheel and also rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for advancing saidgear wheel step-by-step, means for transmitting said step-by-stepmovement to said numeral wheel, a hub member carried by said gear Wheel,a removable centrally ape-rtured side plate carried by said .numeralwheel adjacent said gear wheel, and said hub member being journaled inthe opening in said plate to provide an auxiliary bearing for said gearwheel.

24. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted thereon, a gear wheel associated with said numeralwheel and also rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for advancing saidgear wheel step-by-step,: means for transmitting said step-by-stepmovement to said numeral wheel, a plurality of lugs carried by saidnumeral wheel, a centrally apertured plate for the side of said numeralwheel provided with openings adapted to receive said lugs, whereby saidplate is supported by said numeral wheel, and a hub member carried bysaid gear wheel and journaled in the central opening of said plate toprovide an auxiliary bearing for said gear wheel.

25. In a counter, a shaft, a cam keyed thereto, a numeral wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft and adapted to be rotated step by step,and means carried by said wheel and actuated by said cam for locking theformer against overthrow throughout its step by step movements.

26. In a counter, a shaft, a plurality of numeral wheels mountedthereon, means for operating the same, and means coacting with saidshaft and said operating means and interposed between said wheels forpreventing overthrow thereof.

27. In a counter, a shaft, a plurality of numeral wheels mountedthereon, means for operating the same, and means interposed between saidwheels for preventing overthrow thereof.

28. In a counter, a shaft, a numeral wheel mounted thereon, means foroperating said wheel, locking means for preventing overthrow thereof,and means for actuating said operating means for advancing said wheelstep by step, said locking means remaining in fixed locking positionthroughout said step by step movement.

29. In a counter, a shaft, a numeral Wheel upon rotation of the 'formerthe latter may rotatably mounted thereon, means for operbe re-set tozero romany of itsI various ating the same, and means functioning inregistering positions. 10 the two capacities of preventing overthrow 'intestimony whereof, I have subscribed 5 of said Wheel during registeringmovements my' name.

thereof and providing a driving connection between said shaftv and saidWheel whereby 'WILLIAM G. 'PANKONIN

